Abid
FILM DIRECTOR
Chand
In contradiction and paradox, you can find truth. – Denis Villeneuve
I’m a self-taught filmmaker who discovered a passion for directing fiction films after studying Tax Law at Erasmus University and starting out in a career in consultancy. I learned the craft by taking courses with, among others, Ben Sombogaart and Sándor Soeteman, gaining acting experience at the Meisner Toneelacademie, and clocking hours on set. In 2021, I won the 48 Hour Film Project, which earned me a nomination as one of the top five directors worldwide. My work has been screened at festivals both in the Netherlands and abroad: from Film by the Sea to Washington D.C.
My latest film, HET LIGT AAN MIJ (written by Marlyn van Erp, produced by Lavender Films and BIND), premiered at the Netherlands Film Festival in 2024 and immediately embarked on a major impact tour in a “vrachtwagenbioscoop” (in the back of a truck) as part of the FEMICIDE exhibition by Stichting Open Mind.
Currently I’m in production on my Netherlands Film Fund–supported short JACKPOT (written by Marlyn van Erp, Lavender Films). I’m also collaborating with Marlyn van Erp on multiple other projects, including the short film MAN O MAN (Lavender Films), the short EENDAGSVLIEG (written by Marlyn van Erp, initiated by actor Milad Hussin), and my feature film debut KAS, for which I received development funding from the VEVAM Fund in 2025.
Cast: Thomas van Luin, Lamara Strijdhaftig
Written by: Marlyn van Erp
Cinematography: Nanko Goeting
Producer: Charlotte Rietbergen
Director: Abid Chand
Jonas (29) and Dimi (27) are former lovers. When Dimi visits Jonas to collect the last of her personal belongings, it initially seems like a simple, awkward moment – a closure for the both of them. However, their meeting quickly unfolds into a painful encounter filled with suppressed emotions, as Jonas desperately tries to win Dimi back. Jonas’s jealousy and need to control Dimi take over, revealing why they broke up in the first place.
Technical & Other
Length: 8min
Country: Netherlands
Shooting format: Digital 4K / Color
Screen ratio: 1.78:1
Framerate: 24fps
Audio: 5.1 or Stereo
With the support of: Cultuurfonds, Rotterdams Vrouwenfonds, Blijf Groep
Credits
1st Assistant Director: Sem Balvert | Director’s Assistant: Hasret Demir | Stunt Coordinator: Geoffrey Thompson | Line Producer: Reindert Gerding | Production Manager: Iris Klein | Director of Photography: Nanko Goeting | 1st AC / Focus Puller: Duncan de Koning | 2nd AC: Daisy Stout | Drone Operator: Daniël de Ruiter | Drone Observer: Ruben ter Horst | Gaffer: Mike Deen | Best Boy: Bram van der Giessen | Production Designer: Jorinde Baks | Set Dresser: Lotte Thorborg | Art Assistant: Annelies Maltha | Hair & Makeup + Props: Loes de Jong | Set Photographer: Wendy Groeneveld | Editor: Lot Hoogeboom | Production Sound Mixer & Sound Designer: Stan van den Baar | Composer: David van Dorsten | Colorist: Qianwei Tong | Title & Graphic Designer: Barbara La Teur | Online Editor: Duncan de Koning | Producer: Lavender Films, Charlotte Rietbergen | Co-Producer: BIND, Joram Willink, Piet-Harm Sterk, Maaike Neve, Rosalien Hollestelle, Esther van Driesum | Co-Producer: Sacha Gertsik
Festivals & Awards
Rotterdams Open Doek Festival 2025: finalist
Lions Film Award: finalist
Clermont ISFF: Short Film Market Pick
Cast: Lamara Strijdhaftig, Judith Kotigaro, Tarik Rahali
Written by: Marlyn van Erp
Cinematography: Nanko Goeting
Producer: Reindert Gerding
Director: Abid Chand
Lara and Kevin want nothing more than to give their sister Aimee an unforgettable birthday. The three of them dive back into their carefree childhood and experience a day in which they are children again. As the day progresses, it becomes clear that all three have to deal with a great loss in their own way.
Technical & Other
Length: 8min
Country: Netherlands
Shooting format: Digital 4K / Color
Screen ratio: 2.37:1
Framerate: 24fps
Audio: 5.1 or Stereo
Credits
1st AD: Nikita van Gilst | Producer: Reindert Gerding | Ass. Producer: Annelies Maltha, Rutger van Geelen | Written by: Marlyn van Erp | Story by: Marlyn van Erp, Orlando Groeneveldt, Abid Chand | Director of Photography: Nanko Goeting | 1st AC: Thijs van Geenhuizen | Gaffer: Mike Deen | Best girl: Iris Klein | Art director: Annelies Maltha, Loes de Jong | Sound recordist: Stan van der Baar | Sound designer: Jaap Wajer | Composer: David van Dorsten | Make-up artist: Loes de Jong | Styling: Loes de Jong, Annelies Maltha | Editors: Jon Calado, Rutger van Geelen | Colorgrader: Luke Linssen | Production assistants: Vincent Barnhard, Joost de Wit | Set photographer: Ayda Hasanoglu | Poster designer: Barbara Lateur
Festivals & Awards
48HFP Rotterdam: Best Actress (winner), Best Film, Best Actor, Best Acting Ensemble, Best Cinematography, Best Editing (nominee)
Cast: Jelisa van Schijndel, Joy Verberk, Matthijs Ten Kate
Written by: Marnix Hoogerwerf
Cinematography: Joas Burggraaf
Producer: Reindert Gerding
Director: Abid Chand
It is 1989. The Cold War is coming to an end and the disarmament negotiations are in their final stages. In the Soviet embassy in The Hague, a Soviet agent must make a crucial choice. Time is ticking away as she is torn between reason and emotion.
Technical & Other
Length: 8min
Country: Netherlands
Shooting format: Digital 4K / Color
Screen ratio: 2.39:1
Framerate: 24fps
Audio: Stereo
Credits
1st Assistant Director: Sem Balvert | 2nd Assistant Director: Laura Peters | Ass. Producer: Aissa Traore | Director of Photography: Joas Burggraaf | 1st AC: Gilbert Madnoersan | Gaffer: Mike Deen | Best Girl: Iris Klein | Production Designer: Jorinde Baks | Hair & Makeup: Bianca Buijs | Set Photographer: Hans Tak | Editor: Belal Abhar | Production Sound Mixer & Sound Designer: Jaap Waijer | Composer: David van Dorsten | Styling: Joyce de Vreede | Title Design: Wouter Haasnoot | Production Ass.: Vincent Barnhard, Duncan de Koning
Festivals & Awards
Film by the Sea
Rotterdams Open Doek Festival
Gouds Film Festival
48HFP: Best Film, Audience Award, Best Acting Ensemble, Best Use of Prop, Best Make-up, Best Musical Score, Best Editing, Best Directing (winner), Best Cinematography, Best Sound Design, Best Use of Genre, Best Acting in a Leading role (Joy Verberk), Best Acting in a Supporting Role (Matthijs ten Kate), Best Art Direction (nominee).
Filmapalooza: Best Use of Prop (winner), Best Directing, Best Musical Score, Best Set Design, Best Use of Genre (nominee)
Cast: Judith Kotigaro, Allard Warnas
Written by: Orlando Groeneveldt
Cinematography: Gilbert Madnoersan
Producer: Anas Salameh, Abid Chand
Director: Abid Chand
In her dream world, a young woman is struggling to let go of her father.
Technical & Other
Length: 8min
Country: Netherlands
Shooting format: Digital 4K / Color
Screen ratio: 2.39:1
Framerate: 24fps
Audio: Stereo
Credits
1st Assistant Director: Jessica Lau | 2nd Assistant Director: Laura Peters | Director of Photography: Gilbert Madnoersan | Best girl: Silke Mosseveld | Hair & Makeup + Props: Loes de Jong | Editor: Belal Abhar | Composer: David van Dorsten
Festivals & Awards
Cast: Milad Hussin, Mies de Waal, Vera Sophie Huibregtse
Written by: Orlando Groeneveldt, Abid Chand, Marc de Kool
Cinematography: Gilbert Madnoersan
Producer: Abid Chand
Director: Abid Chand, Marc de Kool
A couple is tested by an advanced artificial intelligence for one of the most important decisions of their lives.
Technical & Other
Length: 8min
Country: Netherlands
Shooting format: Digital 2K / Color
Screen ratio: 1.78:1
Framerate: 24fps
Audio: Stereo
Credits
Director of Photography: Gilbert Madnoersan | Music & Sound: David van Dorsten | Production ass.: Armando Groeneveldt, Floyd Loorbach
Festivals & Awards
Gouds Film Festival
London Short Film Festival
48HFP Rotterdam: Best Use of Line (winner), Best Directing, Audience Award, Best Film, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound Design, Best Use of Rotterdam
Cast: Laura Peters
Written by: Orlando Groeneveldt
Cinematography: Gilbert Madnoersan
Producer: Abid Chand
Director: Abid Chand
A young woman decides to go on a well deserved holiday. In the rented AirBnB, while juggling two different telephone jobs, she discovers she’s perfectly fine on her own and doesn’t need a man for her life to be complete.
Technical & Other
Length: 8min
Country: Netherlands
Shooting format: Digital 4K / Color
Screen ratio: 1.78:1
Framerate: 24fps
Audio: Stereo
Credits
Director of Photography: Gilbert Madnoersan | Screenplay by: Orlando Groeneveldt | Composer: David van Dorsten | Sound Design: Martijn Snoeren | Set Dresser: Patrick Kooiman | Production Ass.: Bart Jansen